Hi everyone, I’m new to this and really looking forward to this new hobby. I have read a books’ worth of posts on CQC, Main lobby, Homeseer, JRMC, Windows media center, XBMC, AppleTV and so on and now would really appreciate some help in the direction of my system. I also made a small previous post, so forgive me if I've repeated some questions and if some repeat slightly. I also wanted to include as much of my research as possible so as to maximize your help.
So, my project;
I’d like to start with whole house audio and video using a single front-end UI controllable on a touchscreen, including control of TVs/Receivers then moving onto the rest of the automation stuff later.. My budget is typical DIY. Music is first priority, then video and then HA.
1. Touchscreens
-One or two hardwired ~15in touchscreens to client PCs/server for music/HA selection and monitoring
-One or two Wifi touchscreens available in the house as handheld remotes; music, video, HA selection and monitoring
Research done so far;
Ipad,itouch, android, iphone, HP touchpad, 15in ELO/Planar touchscreens, Fujitizu stylistic tablets, airpanel, Tablekiosk, Q1 (but too expensive for me), Nokia 770/800
Q’s;
-Options seem much better now than 5 years ago, and so I don’t want to get caught buying into older screens but am still on a budget, so what are the current recommendations and would you still consider some of the older screens listed above if getting them cheap on eBay?.
-Is there a preference to certain types of touchscreens with respect to usage and programming a UI past and present? (Flash vs not, scaling to different screen resolutions/sizes, for example)
-Can I efficiently control music and video with a touchscreen or is video still better with IR?
2. Front-end software
Ideally I’d like one software front end to control everything, available on all touchscreens. It seems I have two options ; DIY HA software such as CQC/MainLobby/Homeseer/Girder/older xlobby and non-HA software such as AppleTV, WMC, Jriver, boxee, xbmc, windows media center, SageTV, and I think my music requirements mainly decide which ones are viable options.
Qs;
-If I want to control the receivers’ and TV’s functions with a touchscreen, I need to step up to a HA software, correct?
-If I want to control independent audio zones I need JRMC(sound cards), iTunes/Airfoil (apple express). How would I bring the HA software into play?
-Mainlobby, Girder and CQC seem the most popular DIY HA software platforms, is there any fundamental differences between each in regard to audio/video single front end control with respect to; touch screen UI, availability of templates, learning curve of my own development of the UI and drivers for hardware control (TV’s , Receivers, Matrix etc)?
-How are users feeling about the UI on an Ipad/iphone/android vs older setups such as ELO/Planar touchscreen monitors with a PC/laptop/HP thin clients, touchscreen tablets running XPe(Tablekiosk/Fujitsu), POS terminals, or handhelds such as the Nokia 770/800? Should I now forget all the old systems and go apple/android (or whenever Microsoft launch something?)
-Do the HA platforms have their own music or video playback engines or do you program them to launch media players such as JRMC, MediaMonkey, Itunes,VLC,TMT,SageTV,Windows Media Center, XBMC etc and then continue to use the touchscreen to play content?
3. Music
-Selection with Wifi touchscreen (I don’t want to turn on the TV)
-Source 1; Mp3’s on a server out to 8 zones
-Sync source 1 to all zones or at least 2 sets of 4 zones.
-Possibly have an ipod hook up in 2 zones as an alternative source (sources 2,3)
-Looking for decent Audiophile quality sound and probably approx 50W/ch
Research done so far;
Maudio 1010LT / Creative SoundBlaster / Casatunes soundcards, russound, niles, sonos, apples express, squeezebox, autopatch/extron matrix. My main crossroads is with the audio, which I centers at the decision on whether to choose the soundcard vs matrix route....wrt cost/ability to synce/stability/UI and how it would integrate into a single front end software.
-Option 1a; JRMC with PCI soundcards; M-Audio 1010LT / SoundBlaster with KX drivers and various USB soundcards with a multichannel amp
-Option 1b; JRMC with its new Id device. They have an android app called Gizmo that works with is.
Qs;
Any feedback on sync ability and audio quality and anybody used JRMC’s Id yet?
-Option 2; Casatunes multi channel soundcard with a multichannel amp, and their android/apple app, good software.
Concerns; max 1 card for 6 zones (12 room system is too expensive) and software is for music only
-Option 3; Apple Airport Expresses with a multichannel amp and rogue amoeba airfoil (on iphone/Androids) to sync zones.
Qs;
-What about appleTV2 for video, can these work with airport expresses for music and hence be complete solution
-Any feedback on sync ability, audio quality and software is for music only
-Option 4: Use a matrix (autopatch/extron) with a multichannel amp which would require CQC/Mainlobby/Girder to control. Also came across Russound CAV6.6 matrix/amp combo but only 20watts per channel.
Qs;
-Any feedback on driver availability of matrices and what to look for in a matrix? I think Sonos/Squeezebox (approx $200-300/zone), and systems such as Niles are out of budget.
-Is the best way of getting an IR or RS232 device (ie receiver,dvr) onto the network by using a GlobalCache, as I’m considering using multiple receivers as in Jwilson’s NowPlaying system as these are cheaply available secondhand starting out.
-I foresee the sound in the living room being used as 1. Surround sound for TV viewing and 2. Music listening with the TV off; however is it possible to have the music on while the TV is also on, but with no sound from the TV content.
-There seems to be an iphone app that can control a 2011 networked Denon Receiver to control its functions, anybody have an experience with this?
-any suggestions on reasonable amplifiers, giving 20-50W / channel
4. Video (secondary preference); 2-4 zones (LR with surround sound, Kitchen, 2BR’s), while using a single front end, and if possible the same as what controls my music
DirecTV
I need DirecTV for fox sports plus (rugby) so this rules out ceton’s InfiniTV cable card with WMC (cable only), and SageTV (no premium channels).
Qs;
-Does a multi zone option require a matrix with HA software (other than using DirecTV’s multi zone)? (I know I could use a HDPVR, but reliability is suspect and might have to use in conjunction with WMC)
-can I get control of the DVR in the single front end software via a touchscreen or IR control?
-I assume more than one zone can’t access the same box at the same time so multi zone would require one box per zone for all of that’s zones content?
-Any advantages with Dish over DirecTV wrt controlling the DVR?
Downloaded content, (htpc or mwdia players such as popcorn hour/WD Live to pull from server)
Usually use VLC as it plays everything.
Option 1; Only use TV’s and use the touchscreen / IR remote or keyboard to launch and select content
Option 2; Use TV’s for some rooms but use the hardwired touchscreen monitor running the HA software to also playback video (ie kitchen)
Qs;
-How can this be integrated into a front end software and content browsed/selected to playback in different zones either on a TV or an in wall monitors?
-Do I need a matrix to sync zones?
-If I have to use IR remotes, do I use global cache or USBIRT, any pros/cons to each device?
DVD/Blu Ray rips
-I understand I need TMT / PowerDVD to play BluRay in a PC, so is it easy to integrate these with various software platforms, such as WMC, AppleTV, xbmc, boxee, CQC, ML, Girder etc.
-WMC and Apple have IR remotes and boxee,xbmc I think also respond to its commands
Any feedback is much appreciated
Capall
So, my project;
I’d like to start with whole house audio and video using a single front-end UI controllable on a touchscreen, including control of TVs/Receivers then moving onto the rest of the automation stuff later.. My budget is typical DIY. Music is first priority, then video and then HA.
1. Touchscreens
-One or two hardwired ~15in touchscreens to client PCs/server for music/HA selection and monitoring
-One or two Wifi touchscreens available in the house as handheld remotes; music, video, HA selection and monitoring
Research done so far;
Ipad,itouch, android, iphone, HP touchpad, 15in ELO/Planar touchscreens, Fujitizu stylistic tablets, airpanel, Tablekiosk, Q1 (but too expensive for me), Nokia 770/800
Q’s;
-Options seem much better now than 5 years ago, and so I don’t want to get caught buying into older screens but am still on a budget, so what are the current recommendations and would you still consider some of the older screens listed above if getting them cheap on eBay?.
-Is there a preference to certain types of touchscreens with respect to usage and programming a UI past and present? (Flash vs not, scaling to different screen resolutions/sizes, for example)
-Can I efficiently control music and video with a touchscreen or is video still better with IR?
2. Front-end software
Ideally I’d like one software front end to control everything, available on all touchscreens. It seems I have two options ; DIY HA software such as CQC/MainLobby/Homeseer/Girder/older xlobby and non-HA software such as AppleTV, WMC, Jriver, boxee, xbmc, windows media center, SageTV, and I think my music requirements mainly decide which ones are viable options.
Qs;
-If I want to control the receivers’ and TV’s functions with a touchscreen, I need to step up to a HA software, correct?
-If I want to control independent audio zones I need JRMC(sound cards), iTunes/Airfoil (apple express). How would I bring the HA software into play?
-Mainlobby, Girder and CQC seem the most popular DIY HA software platforms, is there any fundamental differences between each in regard to audio/video single front end control with respect to; touch screen UI, availability of templates, learning curve of my own development of the UI and drivers for hardware control (TV’s , Receivers, Matrix etc)?
-How are users feeling about the UI on an Ipad/iphone/android vs older setups such as ELO/Planar touchscreen monitors with a PC/laptop/HP thin clients, touchscreen tablets running XPe(Tablekiosk/Fujitsu), POS terminals, or handhelds such as the Nokia 770/800? Should I now forget all the old systems and go apple/android (or whenever Microsoft launch something?)
-Do the HA platforms have their own music or video playback engines or do you program them to launch media players such as JRMC, MediaMonkey, Itunes,VLC,TMT,SageTV,Windows Media Center, XBMC etc and then continue to use the touchscreen to play content?
3. Music
-Selection with Wifi touchscreen (I don’t want to turn on the TV)
-Source 1; Mp3’s on a server out to 8 zones
-Sync source 1 to all zones or at least 2 sets of 4 zones.
-Possibly have an ipod hook up in 2 zones as an alternative source (sources 2,3)
-Looking for decent Audiophile quality sound and probably approx 50W/ch
Research done so far;
Maudio 1010LT / Creative SoundBlaster / Casatunes soundcards, russound, niles, sonos, apples express, squeezebox, autopatch/extron matrix. My main crossroads is with the audio, which I centers at the decision on whether to choose the soundcard vs matrix route....wrt cost/ability to synce/stability/UI and how it would integrate into a single front end software.
-Option 1a; JRMC with PCI soundcards; M-Audio 1010LT / SoundBlaster with KX drivers and various USB soundcards with a multichannel amp
-Option 1b; JRMC with its new Id device. They have an android app called Gizmo that works with is.
Qs;
Any feedback on sync ability and audio quality and anybody used JRMC’s Id yet?
-Option 2; Casatunes multi channel soundcard with a multichannel amp, and their android/apple app, good software.
Concerns; max 1 card for 6 zones (12 room system is too expensive) and software is for music only
-Option 3; Apple Airport Expresses with a multichannel amp and rogue amoeba airfoil (on iphone/Androids) to sync zones.
Qs;
-What about appleTV2 for video, can these work with airport expresses for music and hence be complete solution
-Any feedback on sync ability, audio quality and software is for music only
-Option 4: Use a matrix (autopatch/extron) with a multichannel amp which would require CQC/Mainlobby/Girder to control. Also came across Russound CAV6.6 matrix/amp combo but only 20watts per channel.
Qs;
-Any feedback on driver availability of matrices and what to look for in a matrix? I think Sonos/Squeezebox (approx $200-300/zone), and systems such as Niles are out of budget.
-Is the best way of getting an IR or RS232 device (ie receiver,dvr) onto the network by using a GlobalCache, as I’m considering using multiple receivers as in Jwilson’s NowPlaying system as these are cheaply available secondhand starting out.
-I foresee the sound in the living room being used as 1. Surround sound for TV viewing and 2. Music listening with the TV off; however is it possible to have the music on while the TV is also on, but with no sound from the TV content.
-There seems to be an iphone app that can control a 2011 networked Denon Receiver to control its functions, anybody have an experience with this?
-any suggestions on reasonable amplifiers, giving 20-50W / channel
4. Video (secondary preference); 2-4 zones (LR with surround sound, Kitchen, 2BR’s), while using a single front end, and if possible the same as what controls my music
DirecTV
I need DirecTV for fox sports plus (rugby) so this rules out ceton’s InfiniTV cable card with WMC (cable only), and SageTV (no premium channels).
Qs;
-Does a multi zone option require a matrix with HA software (other than using DirecTV’s multi zone)? (I know I could use a HDPVR, but reliability is suspect and might have to use in conjunction with WMC)
-can I get control of the DVR in the single front end software via a touchscreen or IR control?
-I assume more than one zone can’t access the same box at the same time so multi zone would require one box per zone for all of that’s zones content?
-Any advantages with Dish over DirecTV wrt controlling the DVR?
Downloaded content, (htpc or mwdia players such as popcorn hour/WD Live to pull from server)
Usually use VLC as it plays everything.
Option 1; Only use TV’s and use the touchscreen / IR remote or keyboard to launch and select content
Option 2; Use TV’s for some rooms but use the hardwired touchscreen monitor running the HA software to also playback video (ie kitchen)
Qs;
-How can this be integrated into a front end software and content browsed/selected to playback in different zones either on a TV or an in wall monitors?
-Do I need a matrix to sync zones?
-If I have to use IR remotes, do I use global cache or USBIRT, any pros/cons to each device?
DVD/Blu Ray rips
-I understand I need TMT / PowerDVD to play BluRay in a PC, so is it easy to integrate these with various software platforms, such as WMC, AppleTV, xbmc, boxee, CQC, ML, Girder etc.
-WMC and Apple have IR remotes and boxee,xbmc I think also respond to its commands
Any feedback is much appreciated
Capall